shotgun barrel length legality question

[DoubleJ]

I know legal minimum length in WA is 18".  I have a neighbor who has an extra barrel that will probably never see the light of day again since being replaced.  We had a few drinks last night and discussed sawing it down to 12" just for poops and giggles.  Is simply owning a cut barrel without it being attached to the gun illegal or is it only illegal for the barrel on the gun to be under 18"

[Hunterman]

The legal min. length of a shotgun barrel is 18" no matter if its on the gun or not. Anything under 18 is illegal period. If your neighbor other barrel is under 18, its best to get rid of it.

Hunterman(Tony)

[DoubleJ]

It's not, yet.  Alcohol almost changed that but, I convinced him to wait until I checked today before he did it.

[Eli346]

 I've got a pistol grip shotgun with a 10" barrel under my computer desk by my front door. It's more for intimidation than anything as the firing pin is missing. If that don't work to scare them off the 9mm will and it's loaded and in working condition.

[yote]

Yeah I'd hold off on cutting that barrel the rest of the way, unless you guys want your own 12" barrel in prison when you're doing your sentence... 

[Heredoggydoggy]

Most guys I know that cut off their shotgun barrels cut them off at 18 1/2 inches--just to make DARN sure they're legal length.  When the ATF does a check of shotgun barrels, they have a dowel that is painted red for the first 18 inches.  They drop the dowel down the barrel to the bolt face.  If any red is showing, you can be sure you will find out what 12 inches is like!   

[DoubleJ]

the barrel we were going to cut is a 28" barrel with a built in, unchangeable choke.  He replaced that with a 20" barrel a few years ago.

[high country]

Ask randy weaver what an inch can cost you.

[Heredoggydoggy]

the barrel we were going to cut is a 28" barrel

The choke is right at the end of the barrel--you cut even 3 inches off, and the choke is GONE!

[snowpack]

If you register as an AOW I believe you can cut as short as you want.

[Wazukie]

So....what you are saying is that it is against the law to have a 12" piece of pipe in your home?  That's all a shotgun barrel is when not attached to the receiver isn't it?  It is not the barrel that makes it a controlled and regulated item.  Only when it becomes attached to a receiver does it become regulated as a firearm.  Just my thoughts and interpretation. 

[Heredoggydoggy]

If you register as an AOW I believe you can cut as short as you want.

As long as it has a pistol grip and not a buttstock.  A rifle with a barrel less than 16 inches, or a shotgun with a barrel less than 18  inches is classed as a short-barreled rifle/shotgun.  Illegal in Washington State.

Wazukie: You try arguing that technicality with the ATF--a gun barrel usually has a chamber machined into it, and a block attatched to lock it into the receiver.  In a State that says it's illegal to even possess a PART to a full auto firearm, I think your protest will fall on unsympathetic ears... 

[Wazukie]

so, if it is against the law to own a "part" to a full auto firearm, does that mean a semi-auto and a full-auto use different barrels or receivers or even triggers? 

[Special T]

Why would you want one that short anyway? 18.5 is plenty short. 

[DoubleJ]

the barrel we were going to cut is a 28" barrel

The choke is right at the end of the barrel--you cut even 3 inches off, and the choke is GONE!

It wasn't about cutting the choke off